Ooops, so sorry Apple Pie, I thought I had responded to your thoughtful comment – apparently only in my own head 🙂 I’ll get this painting finished at some stage. And yes, Siddy is just the loveliest wee fella – much adored ❤

What an incredible and inspiring artpiece you are finishing.
I wonder if this is the Tree of Life. . . 🌳 This is full of rays of Hope and gentle waves of Peacefulness.
I adore the direction you are heading, Pauline.
There’s a blessing in your muse and spirit. This is truly an amazing gift.
Thanks for your gift of Siddie. ❤

Hello Robin – thank you for taking the time to visit and look through this latest series – and in the right direction too 🙂 You have picked up some of what I am trying to convey here and I am so glad of that. And I’m happy to here you like the direction it is heading in. She still sits on the easel, looking exactly the same as you see here, while I busy myself with other tasks around her – but I’m always looking and musing on where this wants to go. I hope I get to the point where I feel I can finish her – soon….. 🙂

No rushing for me (or on my account). I think waiting can really help with your final product, Pauline.
I have redone projects to fund my second one comes out better. Watercolors have to be started over, as you know. 😊 Sending you tokens in turquoise, dear. 🐦🐚 🌊

fund = find
Some people have set aside whole books they were writing to come back and complete them. I actually like this and would find the open-ended painting mysterious and touching. As if left to the viewer’s interpretation. . . 💞

Oh I love that tree! I can’t wait to see how this one finishes. And I love that photo of Siddy.
I’ve been feeling a bit disconnected lately, and am so glad to have found time to visit WP today. Although, you are my last visit for the night as it is 11pm and I need to get ready for work in the morning.
I can’t wait to see the cards you’ve been working on, and I just want you to know how much I love seeing the painting on my office wall each day. Everyone admires it!
I just checked out this post from NZ. I’m assuming you are familiar with The Remarkables.https://lignumdraco.wordpress.com/2017/08/21/dragon-tales-of-middle-earth-the-remarkables
(what a disjointed comment this is! time for bed!) XO

Yes, you will be in that general vicinity and there are helicopters for hire – maybe that might be affordable ……. 🙂 Many years ago I got to do a 40 minute trip over this area in a tiny little 6 seater. My friend and I were accosted by the pilot as we lurked about on the edge of an airfield somewhere wondering if we could afford to join in. The plane was ready for take off, there were two empty seats and the plane behaved better when full so we would be doing him a favour if we made up the weight……… to this day I don’t know if it was a real need or if he was just feeling kind. (We were both much younger and much slimmer in those days and I doubt our combined weight was 200lb). It was the most amazing experience, zipping about between high mountains in a tiny plane…… I’d love to do it again 🙂

Hello mama P!
I’m really quite astonished how things pop up on your work. Like that tree on the left! I do like the woman looking more ethereal. The dark shadows on her in the beginning made her look harder and maybe less approachable. The heavens and stars are amazing Pauline. I can hardly believe you can do this with paint. It’s like looking through a celestial window and seeing an angel. xoxo

Hello Little Canuck! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You are completely correct about the beginning phases of the face – I was unsure how to get the effect I wanted so I started to paint her heavier in case when I pushed her back behind the veil her features got lost – then eventually I worked out that I didn’t need to do that….. It’s always trial and error with me. I’m really liking the cosmos look too – I was going to write ‘cosmetic look’ but I guess that wouldn’t be quite right would it 😀 I think I’m intending to develop that a bit more, but its been over a week and I still haven’t done anything more to it. I’ve gotten side tracked. xoxo

Extraordinary!!! I’m in LOVE with this now! It truly moves me. The new tree and the light have added so much to this. As Robbie said it feels “ethereal”. I so agree. I don’t know how it can get better.

Siddy is perfectly happy to be borrowed. He needs treats though and many games of fetch in between pats and cuddles….. You won’t have time for much else and your husband will have to take up the cooking and cleaning.

The word that came to my mind when I saw your new additions was “ethereal” don’t know why but that word jumped in my head. Not a word I use every day, lol. I love the light pushing past her and the green tree as a contrast to her softness….it feels dreamy. Hmmm…is she mother nature?

I have to share Pauline; you will be very proud of me- I joined a Skillshare and am taking classes on watercolor and ink, photography. I signed up for the next year. Only 8 dollars a month! I messed around with watercolors yesterday after watching a few classes.I had to order a few new paint brushes and pan watercolors. I had some tubes I ordered a few years ago but never did anything with since I never found the time.

I am learning how to use the materials. I am only familiar with charcoal and sketching from college, so this is all new for me! I have started a journal this summer, and I am filling it up with ideas. It is a lot of fun. I like mixing the colors and trying to get different shades from one color into one sketch/journal idea. That is something new I have never done. It is like shading with paint. I know how to shade with pencil/charcoal but never watercolor paints. I am looking forward to what comes out of my adventures….I got lost yesterday mixing colors and sketching. I am excited to find my style and have no idea what it will be, but I assume it will be something with flowers! LOL, I have a garden filled with them to explore.

That is wonderful news Robbie. I’m so glad you finally did it. Just playing with your new media half an hour a day will find you wielding that brush with confidence in no time at all! I can’t wait to see what you produce on paper as what you make happen in your garden is simply spectacular! ❤

You are correct as usual my friend! It ain’t sunlight! 🙂 You are in my thoughts such a lot at the moment as I wonder what it is like living so close to the centre of insanity…….. We are all awaiting change!! 🙂

Having been away a lot recently, this is my first glimpse of this canvas. I’m going to go back to the beginning and see how you got to this stage – which is very haunting, I have to say. In a good way, of course!

Thank you. I tend to pull my energies in when things aren’t good, so haven’t said anything on my Sunday Sevens, as I’ll only get exhausted and more upset by reading and replying to everyone’s kindness. But I think of you as a good friend and I’m on your blog, so yes I’m afraid although I mentioned Hicks’ hot spot on my Sunday Sevens this morning, I haven’t mentioned that the vet also measured his tumour and it has started growing very rapidly. She estimates he has about 2 months. However the hotspot which was getting better is getting worse again this morning, so I’m now worried he might not even be able to get on top of that infection. It’s Sunday morning here, so spoke to the out of hours vet and we’ve increased his dose of antibiotics. So fingers crossed. Thanks for being there. Hope you don’t feel I’m putting on you. xx

Oh – that’s just too awful Bekki! I’m so sorry to hear that! I think you have done such wonderful things for the dear old boy over the time I have known you and he has always come back and responded so well. He lives knowing he is loved and looked after and has endless treats and puddles and cuddles and that is all our doggies ever want from us. This is the hard bit – the part we all dread and don’t want to have to deal with, yet must. If it’s two weeks or two months or even, lets hope a little longer, you will do it and it will break your heart, but he will know he is loved and he will feel safe as long as you hold him close. I’m holding back tears just thinking of it. My heart is with you and I’m so glad you feel able to share with me. Big hugs for you and dear old Mr Hicks too. My email is contentedcrafter at gmail if you want to keep in touch further.

Hello. Thank you. I am in tears now. You’re right, unfortunately this is the part we all sign up for. Thanks for the hugs and for your email. Hugs right back at ya! I’ll keep you in the loop. Thanks for being there xx

It’s back! How wonderful, and thank you Ginene for letting me know. I do not think I would have gone looking for it again, so I am really grateful……… and I know other of her friends and followers and fans who drop by here from time to time will also be glad to hear this news. Thank you ❤

I’ve been offline a while and now come back to discover the evolution of this! The shaft of light is a lovely connection between the tree and girl. It’s interesting for me to see how your canvas started – all peachy and impressionistic- and how it is now with a total colour change.

Oh well, time to ‘fess up Jenny – I started with one thought in mind and then changed it entirely. I didn’t like that orangey-peachy colour – I wasn’t feeling it at all and the canvas was just too big to go with the original intention – so we end up with this conglomeration that is driving me bonkers. The question now is can anything be saved?

The tree makes an interesting contrast with the ethereal and celestial woman bathed in light. It makes me think of yin and yang and all things opposite, in this case earth and sky/heaven and earth. The painting is taking an interesting turn with the tree.

I wasn’t expecting the tree, but it is very, very cool. I guess pretty much everything is affected by current events these days. I do love the strong light ray coming through, as it gives us hope. Nice work, Pauline.

It is the World Tree, Yggdrasil (or any other name it goes by) I think it was always going to be there, just as she, the eternal feminine, was always going to fade into the background, though I had to fight with myself to get that to happen 🙂

We are desperately in need of Light at this time.
Earth, light, and water: necessary ingredients for human life.
The woman – tasked with bringing new life into our world – must rise up from the deep to dispel the hate and bigotry with compassion and inclusiveness.

It’s the result of a lot of thoughts I am having about the state of the world political stage currently and the fact that I believe there is more to life, our planet and the cosmos than the fools in power realise. And light cannot be extinguished……..

I think the tree is probably Yggdrasil or any other World Tree or Tree of Life…… There’s a strong inclination toward mythology, light, hope and the eternal feminine when I’m in the act of painting – but it’s still not quite come together and
the more I look at it the less together it appears to me.

Isn’t he the most communicative of little chaps ❤ This is his 'Is it time for a little something now?' look. I should have called him Winnie 🙂 He will go completely bonkers with lots of people and even more attention! I forgot to mention when I was on your post earlier that a postcard arrived in my box today, sent from Boulder. You are such a delight to be thinking of us all when you are on holiday! Thank you for it ❤

If there is something you can see in the tree it is just for you. I keep changing my mind about where to go with this and I just want to finish it now…. I want more light, but the beam is too strong. I want eternity and hope and renewal, but I haven't got it yet…… more layers…. sigh! 😀

Oh Pauline, I love the way you describe him. He’s such a darling. Winnie! LOL Perhaps I’ll start calling Mouse “Winnie” too. I’m having his thyroid checked next week, just to be sure he’s simply overeating and not out of sync. He is rotund. I’m glad the postcard traveled safely across the miles. I’ve often wondered if postcards are treated like second class mail, but they always seem to get there. I think that’s magical.

Eternity, hope, renewal…they all sound wonderful to me. I do see something in that tree. Let me go spy it again.